Reservoir filter and indicator

ABSTRACT

A filter device is adapted to be mounted to the exterior of a sidewall of a fluid reservoir and includes a housing section having a fluid inlet connected with the reservoir and fluid outlet. The housing section defines a filter chamber fluidly intermediate the inlet and the outlet and disposed below the fluid level of the reservoir. A tubular section extends upwardly from the housing section and a filter element is vertically slidably disposed in the filter chamber. A rod extending upwardly from the filter element provides a means for withdrawing the filter element upwardly from the filter chamber.

United States Patent 1 Rosaen et al.

[ June 12, 1973 RESERVOIR FILTER AND INDICATOR [73] Assignee:Parker-Hannifin Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio 22 Filed: Mar. 1, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 119,899

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 794,612, Jan. 28,1969, Pat. No. 3,608,277, which is a division of Ser. No. 569,488, Aug.1, 1966, Pat. No. 3,440,802, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.522,773, Jan. 24, 1966, Pat. No. 3,441,137.

[52] US. Cl. 116/70, 210/90 [51] Int. Cl. G011 19/12 [58] Field ofSearch 116/70, 114, 117;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,382,978 5/1968 Rosaen116/70 X 3,464,556 9/1969 Cullen 210/90 3,472,380 10/1969 Rosaen 210/903,545,616 12/1970 Aspinwell 210/90 Primary ExaminerLouis J. CapoziAttorney-Ernest Gifford et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A filter device is adapted to be mounted to the exteriorof a sidewall of a fluid reservoir and includes a housing section havinga fluid inlet connected with the reservoir and fluid outlet. The housingsection defines a filter chamber fluidly intermediate the inlet and theoutlet and disposed below the fluid level of the reservoir. A tubularsection extends upwardly from the housing section and a filter elementis vertically slidably disposed in the filter chamber. A rod extendingupwardly from the filter element provides a means for withdrawing thefilter element upwardly from the filter chamber.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures RESERVOIR FILTER AND INDICATOR CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisionalapplication of Ser. No. 794,612 filed Jan. 28, 1969, and now U.S. Pat.No. 3,608,277 which was a divisional application of Ser. No. 569,488filed Aug. 1, 1966 and now US Pat. No. 3,440,802 which in turn is acontinuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 522,773 filedJan. 24, 1966 and now US. Pat. No. 3,441,137.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to filtering devices and more particularly to an improved filterdevice constructed to permit continued operation of the system to whichthe device is connected while the filter element is being removed forcleaning or replacement.

II. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore a number of filter deviceshave been provided in the prior art to permit continued operation of thefluid system while the filter element is being removed for purposes ofcleaning or replacement. Each of these has included some type of valvemeans operable upon being actuated to close off portions of the filterdevice and to redirect fluid directly from the inlet to the outlet. Suchvalve means in addition to adding considerable cost to the filterdevices by being expensive to manufacture and assemble also are subjectto malfunction. When the valve means become worn or when the malfunctionoccurs without advance warning, removal of the filter element from theopen end of the device results in fluid spillage necessitating adifficult and time consuming clean up operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A purpose of the improved filter device asdisclosed in my aforementioned patents and the present application is toprovide a filter device constructed to permit continued operation of thefluid system as the filter element is being removed for cleaning orreplacement. The improved filter device does not require valve means forthis purpose so that a substantial reduction in initial cost isachieved. Furthermore, the improved filter device obviates the danger ofloss of system fluid resulting from malfunction of conventional valvemeans.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention which produces thisimproved functional performance, and which will be subsequentlydescribed in detail, further comprises a housing section having a fluidinlet adapted for connection to a reservoir of the fluid system and afluid outlet. The housing section defines a filter chamber fluidlyintermediate the inlet and the outlet and vertically disposed below thefluid level of the reservoir. A tubular section forms a verticalextension of the filter chamber and terminates upwardly at a level abovethe normal fluid level of the system. The filter element is verticallyslidably disposed in the filter chamber and carries an elongated rodwhich extends up through the tubular member and provides a means forwithdrawing the filter element upwardly from the filter chamber. As thefilter element is being withdrawn from the filter chamber the fluid flowcontinues from the inlet through the section of the filter chamberevacuated by the filter element to the outlet thereby providing acontinual fluid flow during the withdrawing operation.

During the normal filtering operation of the improved filter device, thefilter element becomes clogged as it removes foreign matter from thesystem fluid. The clogged condition of the filter element produces apressure differential between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet andacross the filter element. This pressure differential produces avertical upward movement of the filter assembly. until it has moved adistance sufficient to permit a direct fluid flow from the inlet throughthe filter chamber bypassing the filter element and then through theoutlet. Preferably, the filter element, as it gradually moves verticallyupwardly, causes the upper end of the elongated rod to actuate visualindicating means provided on the upper section of the tubular member andwhich indicates the filtering condition of the filter element The rodthen performs a dual function, i.e., it transmits movement of filterelement to the indicating means and it serves as the handle for removingthe filter element, when it becomes unduly clogged.

As previously indicated, the treated filter element provides for anautomatic purging of air which might otherwise collect in the device.This purging is accomplished without expensive air evacuation means andtakes place substantially continuously during operation of the system sothat large air bubbles which would otherwise accumulate are notsuddently thrown into the system to interfere with the operation of theother components of the system.

Still another feature of the improved device of the present invention isthe provision for a sight glass in the structure defining the verticalextension of the filter chamber. The sight glass is provided at a heightfrom the filter chamber establishing a minimum oil level in thereservoir. This minimum oil level is defined at a height sufficient toprevent air from being discharged from the filter chamber to the filteroutlet. The sight glass therefore provides a visual indication for determining when additional oil must be supplied to the fluid system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the presentinvention will be achieved by reference to the following detaileddescription. The description makes reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a preferred filterdevice of the present invention mounted to a fluid reservoir andillustrating other preferred components of the system schematically;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view as seen substantially from lines 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a mod itication of theupper section of the preferred embodiment of the present invention forindicating the filter ing condition of the filter element;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view as seen substantiallyfrom lines 5--5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the filter element;and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an alternativefilter element.

DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now referring to thedrawings,'FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred filter device ascomprising a housing member having a rectangular flange 12 mounted tothe exterior surface of the wall of a reservoir 14 by a plurality ofthreaded fasteners 16.

The wall 13 of the reservoir 14 is provided with a preferably circularopening 18 which is disposed below the normal working level of the fluidin the reservoir 14. The opening 18 is encompassed by the mountingsurface of the flange 12.

The housing 10 is internally cored to define an open topped filterchamber 20. An annular section 22 defines an outlet 24 fluidlyconnecting the chamber with the reservoir 14.

A rib 26 extending around the lower wall portion of the housing 10defines a horizontal annular seat 28. The seat 28 is connected to theannular section 22 by a short actuate vertical wall section 30.

The housing 10 defines a substantially U-shaped inlet opening 32 whichencompasses the annular section 22 and is fluidly connected with abottom chamber section 34. It can thus be seen that the annular section22 including the wall section separates the outlet 24 from the inletopening 32. The inlet opening 32, as can best be seen in FIG. 2, isfluidly connected through a pair of substantially vertical passages 35to the upper section of the filter chamber 20.

An upper annular rib 36 cooperates with a lower annular rib 38 formedadjacent the seat 28 to provide a vertical guideway for a filterassembly generally indicated at 40. The lower annular rib 38 isintegrally connected with the wall section 30 adjacent the lower portionof the annular section 22 and the upper rib 36 extends around the upperportion of the annular section 22.

The filter assembly 40 includes an outer cylindrical member 42 which hasits lower end normally disposed on the seat 28. A hold-down bolt 43retains the member 42 in this seated position. The member 42 is providedwith an upper O-ring seal 44 which engages the upper rib 36 and a lowerO-ring seal 46 which engages the lower rib 38. The outer cylindricalmember 42 is provided with a circumferential recess 48 in which isdisposed a cylindrical filtering mesh element 50. The cylindrical member42 is also provided with a plurality of circumferential apertures 52which provide fluid communication between the inner volume defined bythe cylindrical member 42 and its exterior surface.

An inner cylindrical member is provided with a lower end sectionradially enlarged to form an annular flange 56 which is also disposed onthe seat 28. The

flange 56 preferably has a diameter corresponding to the inner diameterof the lower end of the cylindrical member 42 and carries a piston ring58 which slidably engages the inner surface of the lower end of thecylindrical member 42. The inner cylindrical member has a plurality ofcircumferential openings 59 permitting fluid communication between theinterior and exterior sides of the member 42.

It is to be understood that normally the cylindrical member 42 isstationary relative to the housing 10. The cylindrical member 52 has anarrowed inner circumference as at 60 to provide an annular seat for theupper end of a coil spring 62 disposed between the inner cylindricalmember 54 and the outer cylindrical member 42. The spring is seated atits lower end against the flange 56 ofthe inner cylindrical member sothat the inner cylindrical member 54 is normally biased downwardlyagainst the seat 28.

The upper outer surface of the inner cylindrical member 54 is guided forvertical sliding movement within the outer cylindrical member 42 by apiston ring 63.

The filter assembly further comprises a lower member 64 having anannular shoulder section 66 which is seated on an inner circumferentialflange portion 68 provided at the lower end of the inner cylindricalmember 54. A cylindrical filter element 70 is sandwiched between thelower member 64 and an upper member 72 having a configuration similar tothe lower member 64 and which includes an annular shoulder section 74having a diameter corresponding to the inner diamter of the innercylindrical member 54.

The lower member 64 includes a plurality of annularly spaced openings 76which permit fluid communication between the lower chamber section 34and the interior of the filter element 70. Similarly the upper member72, as can best be seen in FIG. 2, is provided with a plurality ofannular openings 78 which permit fluid communication between the uppersection of the chamber 20 and the interior of the filter element 70.

' Referring back to FIG. 1, the filter element 70 is provided with ameshed frust'o-conical shaped section 79 forming a part of its innerlower end. As the filter assembly 40 is moved upwardly through thefluid, the force of the fluid acting on the filter tends to wash theforeign particles downwardly from the interior of the element where itis collected by the section 79. It can be seen that the section 79prevents the foreign particles from escaping back into the outlet 24 sothat they are removed from the system with the filter assembly 40.

The lower member 64 is provided with an axial opening 80 which ispreferably formed on the axis of the filter element 70. The upper member72 is provided with an opening'82 which is vertically axially alignedwith the opening 80 in the lower chamber 64.

A rod 84 has a reduced diameter threaded section 86 which extendsthrough the upper opening 82, the filter element 70 and through thelower opening 80 a distance sufficient to permit a lock nut 88 to bethreadably attached thereon thereby securing the lower member 64, thefilter element 70, and the upper member 72 to the rod 84. The narrowedthreaded section 86 of the rod 84 further carries a plurality of magnets90 which are spaced from the upper member 72 by a bushing 92 and lockedtogether by a nut 94.

The housing 10 further includes a drain plug provided for the purpose ofremoving sediment and other foreign matter that may accumulate in thelower portion of the lower chamber section 34. The drain plug 96 permitsremoval of accumulated sediment even while the system fluid is flowingthrough the filter assembly 40.

An elongated tubular member 98 is fastened to the upper open end of thehousing 10 by a plurality of annularly spaced threaded fasteners 100. Aseal member 102 is preferably disposed between the flanges of thetubular member 98 and the upper ends of the housing 10.

The tubular member 98 has an inner diameter sufficient to accommodatethe outer diameter of the outer cylindrical member 42 so that thecylindrical member 42 can be inserted into and withdrawn from thehousing through the tubular member 98.

As can best be seen in FIG. 1, a sight glass 104 is provided in a wallof the tubular member 98 and above the filter chamber 20. The sightglass 104 is preferably disposed at a height corresponding to a minimumfluid level in the system. This level is above the fluid outlet 24 sothat air will not be introduced to the system through the outlet 24.

The upper end of the rod 84 is threaded as at 124 and carries a knobelement 126 which is vertically adjustable to abut the lower end of therod 116. The knob is adjusted so that when the filter assembly is seatedagainst the flange 68, the enlarged end 118 of the rod rests on the seat114 of the cap 106.

Now as the invention has thus far been described, fluid is normallydrawn from the reservoir 14 by a pump 128 through the inlet 32 whichproduces a flow through the lower chamber section 34 and up through theinterior of the filter element 70, and also through the passages 35 tothe upper section of the chamber 20 and down through the interior of thefilter element 70. The fluid then flows in filtering relationshiphorizontally through the filter element 70 and out through the outlet 24to a conduit 130 for discharge to a fluid user 132. The conduit 130preferably is disposed in the reservoir 14 as illustrated.

The preferred filter device, as can best be seen in FIG. 2, can also beadapted to the suction side of a pump through either one or both of apair of side outlets 134 and 136 which are in fluid communication withthe exterior side of the filter element 70, but for purposes ofdescription are shown in FIG. 2 as capped by members 138 and 140.

As the filter element 70 becomes clogged, it produces a pressuredifferential across the inlet 32 and outlet 24. This increased inletpressure is reflected in the lower chamber section 34 and acts againstthe lower surface of the flange 56 of the inner cylindrical member 54.This upward force on the inner cylindrical member 44 gradually increasesto the point where it overcomes the normal downward urging of the spring62 so that the filter element 70, the upper member 72 and the lowermember 64 are carried by the inner cylindrical member verticallyupwardly. The spring member 62 is chosen of a stiffness sufficient tocorrespond to a predetermined clogged condition of the filter element sothat when the filter element 70 reaches this clogged condition the innercylindrical member will have risen a vertical distance sufficient toclear the openings 52 in the outer cylindrical member, therebypermitting a direct fluid flow from the lower filter chamber section 34to the outlet 24 thus bypassing the filter element 70.

Now it can be seen that as the filter element 70 becomes clogged,thereby producing a fluid-pressure differential sufficient to move theinner cylindrical member 54 vertically upwardly, the knob 126 is carriedupwardly to move the rod 116 upwardly against the force of the spring122. The retainer 120 is provided with an annular flange 142 which has aradial slot 144 formed inwardly from its circumferential edge. The slot144 is engaged with an actuating member 146 having a uniform twist andwhich is carried by a vertical pin 148 supported for rotation in the cap106. As the retainer is forced upwardly by the movement of the filterassembly, the sides of the slot 144 act on the actuating member 146 toproduce a rotation of the pin 148. The upper end of the pin 148, as canbest be seen in FIG. 3, carries a pointer element 150 which traversesthe upper surface of cap 106. The pointer element 150 is associated witha plurality of indicia 152 which correspond to the rotation of the pin148. Since the degree of rotation of the pin 148 is associated with themovement and therefore the condition of the filter assembly, the indicia152 correspond to this degree of rotation and visually indicate thecondition of the filter element 70.

The cap 106 carries a downwardly depending guide pin 154 (FIG. 1) whichregisters in an opening 156 pro vided in the flange 142 to stabilize theretainer 120. The cap 106 is further provided with an air passage 158which permits air movement into and out of the filter device toaccommodate changing fluid levels.

When the filter element 70 has become clogged to a degree requiring thatit be removed for purposes of either cleaning or replacement, the cap106 is removed while the fluid system continues to operate. The knob 126is grasped to pull the filter 70 vertically upwardly through the tubularmember 98. Thus a removal of the filter element 70 is accomplished bysimply lifting the filter element 70 from active filtering engagementwith the fluid within the housing 10. It can be seen that this removaldoes not disturb the operation of the fluid system since fluid willcontinue to pass from the inlet passage 32 to the outlet passage 24.

Much of the air which might tend to be introduced into this systemduring removal and reinsertion of the filter element rises to the top ofthe tubular section 98 and escapes from the system.

An alternate embodiment of the filter visual indicating means isillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and comprises a modified cap 160 whichcloses off the upper end of the tubular member 98 and is removablysecured thereto by a plurality of threaded fasteners 162.

The cap 160 includes an inner downwardly depending cylindrical section164 which encompasses the upper end of the rod 84. An elongated knob 166is carried on the threaded end 124 of the rod 84 and locked thereon by anut 168.

The upper end of the knob 166 is adjusted to engage an actuating pin 170which is horizontally journaled for rotation in a boss portion 172 ofthe cap 160. The inner end of the pin 170 is provided with a pair ofright angle bends 174 so that a vertical movement of the knob 166produces a rotation of pin 170.

The outer end of the pin 170 is reduced as at 176 and carries a pointer178 at the extreme end thereof. The pointer 178 is disposed in arecessed portion of the boss 172 and points to suitable indicia 180provided on an indicator plate 182. The pointer element 178 rotates withthe pin 170 and thus with suitable indicia 180 indicates the conditionof the filter element 70 by indicating the position of the filterassembly 40.

Novel means are provided in the present invention for continuouslyseparating bubbles of air which often are carried in the system fluid.These bubbles normally are attracted to the surface of the components ofthe system and tend to cling to such surfaces.

As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the filter element 70 is preferablycoated with a microscopically thin layer 182 of a Teflon plastic ortetrafluoroethylene resin. The Teflon resin is normally applied to aconventional filter element initially in a liquid vehicle by spraying,hand coating or the like to provide a coating having a smooth surface.

The treated surface of the filter element 70 prevents the bubbles of aircarried in the system fluid from clinging thereto as in the case withuncoated filter element. The bubbles of air in the fluid upon engagingthe filter element 70 tend to rise to the surface of the fluid andseparate therefrom.

This tendency of the bubbles of air to rise to the surface uponimpinging against the Teflon coated filter element 70 is not restrictedto a coated surface. For instance, FIG. 7 illustrates filter element 70as being fabricated of a nylon material. The nylon filter element 70also causes bubbles of air carried in the system fluid to rise to thesurface of the moving fluid rather than to cling to the filter element'70.

It can therefore be seen that metallic filter elements coated withselected materials such as a Teflon resin and selected non-coatednon-metallic filter elements will produce the aforementioned separationof air bubbles from the fluid system. Such selected coatings andmaterials are characterized by the property that they have a lesserforce of adhesion with the bubbles of air than exists between thebubbles and the fluid in which they are carried. Since the bubbles arenot attracted by the structure through which they are passing, thenatural forces of buoyancy carries the bubbles to the surface of thefluid where they escape from the fluid.

It is apparent that the construction of the present invention which hasbeen described provides a filter device in which the filter element canbe readily changed or cleaned without interrupting the operation of thefluid system. The device, unlike previous similar devices, does notrequire extensive valve means which are subject to malfunction and whichoften create difficult clean-up operations produced by an inoperativedevice.

We claim:

I. In a fluid system having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain liquidat a predetermined level, a filter device comprising:

a first housing portion mounted to said reservoir below the level offluid therein having an inlet connected to said fluid reservoir and anoutlet, said inlet and outlet being below said level,

a second housing portion connected with said first housing portion andhaving a vertically elongated chamber extending a distance above saidlevel,

a filter assembly including a filter element carried in said firsthousing portion, said filter assembly being movable vertically inresponse to increased clogging of said filter element,

a handle for removing said filter element from said first housingportion, said handle affixed to said filter assembly and extendingvertically upwardly through said second housing portion;

said handle moving with said filter assembly in response to increasedclogging of said filter element,

and means engaging with said handle and operable to transmit movement ofsaid handle to means exterior of said housing portions indicating theposition of said filter assembly and thus the condition of said filterelement. 2. The fluid system as defined in claim 1 and in which saidlast mentioned means comprises:

a pin member mounted for axial movement and having a lower end engagingthe upper end of said handle, whereby movement of said handle producescorresponding axial movement of said pin member, a rotatably supportedpointer member and means translating axial movement of said pin memberto rotation of said pointer member. 3. The fluid system as defined inclaim 2 and in which said translating means comprises:

an arm carried by said pin member and movable therewith; an elongatedactuator member axially connected with said pointer member so thatrotation of said actuator member produces rotation of said pointermember, said actuator member being twisted about its axis and said armhaving a slot receiving said actuator member 50 that movement of saidarm along the axis of said actuator member produces rotation of saidactuator member and of said pointer member. 4. The fluid system asdefined in claim 1 and in which said last mentioned means comprises:

a pointer member mounted for, rotation normal to the direction ofmovement of said handle; an actuating member mounted to said pointermember and normally engaging the upper end of said handle, saidactuating member having a pair of right angle bends so that axialmovement of said rod produces rotational movement of said actuatormember and thus rotational movement of said pointer member. 5. In afilter device having a housing defining a filter chamber, a filterassembly disposed in said chamber, said filter assembly including afilter element and an elongated member having an actuating end disposed45 out of said filter chamber, said filter assembly being movable inresponse to changes in the pressure differential across said filterelement whereby said elongated member is movable axially in response tochanges in the clogged condition of said filter element, means forindicating the condition of said filter element exteriorly of saidhousing, said indicating means comprising, a pointer member rotatable onan axis transverse to the movement of said filter assembly, an actuatormember rotatable with said pointer member and having an end portionextending across the actuating end of said elongated member, saidactuating member comprising an elongated section formed with a pair ofright angled bends whereby axial movement of said elongated memberproduces rotation of said actuating member and of 0 said pointer member.

I I l Patent No. 3,738,310

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CQR-RECTEON Dated June 12,1973 Inventor(s) Nils O. Rosaen after Column 5, line 17, after line 44,

Column 6,

Column 7, cancel lines 12 Signed and sealed (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD'M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer line 6l, beginning with "Novelcancel all to including "surfaces." in line 65.

et al It is certified that error appears inthe above-identified patentand that said Letters Patent are hereby "corrected as shown below:

lines 22" 30,. delete "plug", insert 96- "rod", insert ll6- delete "44"and insert -54- and this 26th. day of March 1974.

C. MARSHALL. DANN Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM'DC60375-F69 U5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0-365'33

1. In a fluid system having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain liquidat a predetermined level, a filter device comprising: a first housingportion mounted to said reservoir below the level of fluid thereinhaving an inlet connected to said fluid reservoir and an outlet, saidinlet and outlet being below said level, a second housing portionconnected with said first housing portion and having a verticallyelongated chamber extending a distance above said level, a filterassembly including a filter element carried in said first housingportion, said filter assembly being movable vertically in response toincreased clogging of said filter element, a handle for removing saidfilter element from said first housing portion, said handle affixed tosaid filter assembly and extending vertically upwardly through saidsecond housing portion; said handle moving with said filter assembly inresponse to increased clogging of said filter element, and meansengaging with said handle and operable to transmit movement of saidhandle to means exterior of said housing portions indicating theposition of said filter assembly and thus the condition of said filterelement.
 2. The fluid system as defined in claim 1 and in which saidlast mentioned means comprises: a pin member mounted for axial movementand having a lower end engaging the upper end of said handle, wherebymovement of said handle produces corresponding axial movement of saidpin member, a rotatably supported pointer member and means translatingaxial movement of said pin member to rotation of said pointer member. 3.The fluid system as defined in claim 2 and in which said translatingmeans comprises: an arm carried by said pin member and movabletherewith; an elongated actuator member axially connected with saidpointer member so that rotation of said actuator member producesrotation of said pointer member, said actuator member being twistedabout its axis and said arm having a slot receiving said actuator memberso that movement of said arm along the axis of said actuator memberproduces rotation of said actuator member and of said pointer member. 4.The fluid system as defined in claim 1 and in which said last mentionedmeans comprises: a pointer member mounted for rotation normal to thedirection of movement of said handle; an actuating member mounted tosaid pointer member and normally engaging the upper end of said handle,said actuating member having a pair of right angle bends so that axialmovement of said rod produces rotational movement of said actuatormember and thus rotational movement of said pointer member.
 5. In afilter device having a housing defining a filter chamber, a filterassembly disposed in said chamber, said filter assembly including afilter element and an elongated member having an actuating end disposedout of said filter chamber, said filter assembly being movable inresponse to changes in the pressure differential across said filterelement whereby said elongated member is movable axially in response tochanges in the clogged condition of said filter element, means forindicating the condition of said filter element exteriorly of saidhousing, said indicating means comprising, a pointer member rotatable onan axis transverse to the movement of said filter assembly, an actuatormember rotatable with said pointer member and having an end portionextending across the actuating end of said elongated member, saidactuating member comprising an elongated section formed with a pair ofright angled bends whereby axial movement of said elongated memberproduces rotation of said actuating member and of said pointer member.